Roundup is the most widely used weed killer in the world. Glyphosate, the active chemical in Monsanto’s broad-spectrum herbicide has been declared “probably carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, raising growing concerns about Roundup cancer risks for farmers, landscapers and agricultural workers who routinely use the product.
For years, Roundup has been aggressively marketed as an agricultural miracle – a safe and quick way to control weeds on everything from food crops to golf courses. In the U.S. alone, more than 300 million pounds of glyphosate are sprayed on farms each year, but is Roundup as safe as Monsanto claims it is?
It is alleged that agrochemical giant Monsanto has known about the cancer risks of glyphosate for decades, yet knowingly failed to provide safety instructions or proper warnings. Showard Law Firm is reviewing potential cases on behalf of individuals who have been diagnosed with lymphoma or other cancers that may have been caused by Roundup exposure. Our attorneys regularly litigate mass torts against pharmaceutical companies and have collected millions on behalf of clients injured through the negligence of large corporations.
Does Roundup cause cancer?
When the cancer-research team of the World Health Organization labels the chief ingredient in a popular weed killer as probably carcinogenic to humans, further investigations into glyphosate side effects are warranted.
Is there a causal link between Roundup and cancer? Documents provided in lawsuits against Monsanto indicate the company buried studies exposing the dangers of Roundup, and spent millions to convince farmers, governmental agencies and the general public that its herbicide was patently safe.
Researchers and critics alike admit there is contradictory evidence as to whether long-term glyphosate exposure leads to cancer in those who routinely handle the weed killer. Most reports suggest that human dietary exposure to glyphosate (through eating foods in treated fields) is not likely to pose a carcinogenic risk. But what about workplace exposure to Roundup and the people who use the herbicide in large quantities for many months or years.
At Sweden’s University Hospital Department of Oncology, scientists found that exposure to glyphosate nearly triples the risk of a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma called lymphocytic lymphoma. However, it can take up to a decade from the time of exposure to a lymphoma diagnosis, a fact that undermines the clarity of this study.
Researchers at Emory University’s Department of Epidemiology subsequently reviewed multiple cohort studies on glyphosate dangers and found “no consistent pattern of positive associations indicating a causal relationship between total cancer (in adults or children) or any site-specific cancer and exposure to glyphosate.”
In tests on rats and mice, IARC researchers found that animals exposed to glyphosate developed renal tubule carcinoma, skin tumors and pancreatic adenoma.
The safety of glyphosate exposure in humans is still being reviewed by regulatory bodies. Meanwhile, Monsanto is fighting litigation by thousands of people claiming their cancer was caused by Roundup. At Showard Law Firm, we have a proven track record of helping clients and their families who were injured by defective products. Protect your rights by speaking with a qualified attorney about eligibility for filing a Roundup lawsuit.
What kind of cancer does Roundup cause?
According to the World Health Organization, glyphosate can have different effects at varying doses, which ultimately hinges on how much of the chemical a person is exposed to, and if it was inhaled or ingested. Agricultural workers, groundskeepers and landscapers are at highest risk for side effects of Roundup given its wholesale use.
Glyphosate is under review for its association with the following types of cancer:
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Mantle Cell Lymphoma
- Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Large B-Cell Lymphoma
- Hairy Cell Leukemia
- Burkitt Lymphoma
- Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma
The potential glyphosate cancer risks, along with other health concerns, has led several countries in Europe to ban the substance for agricultural use.
Other Roundup side effects
Glyphosate exposure is hard to avoid these days. Unfortunately, the chemical is associated with a number of adverse health issues, from reproductive defects to endocrine disruption. Over the past two decades scientists have been documenting the negative consequences of glyphosate in the air we breathe, the food we eat and the land we harvest from.
Health problems connected to glyphosate exposure:
- Chronic kidney disease
- Gluten intolerance
- Heart disease
- Infertility
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Developmental and birth defects
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Diabetes
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Various types of cancer
Review your case with Showard Law Firm
If you believe that Monsanto negligently failed to warn about Roundup cancer risks and need an advocate you can trust, Showard Law Firm can help level the playing field. Our talented attorneys are firmly committed to protecting consumer rights and winning fair compensation for our clients.
Additional Resources on Roundup Cancer:
- Science Direct, Epidemiologic studies of glyphosate and cancer: A review https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230012000943
- Nature, Widely used herbicide linked to cancer https://www.nature.com/news/widely-used-herbicide-linked-to-cancer-1.17181
- EPA, EPA’s evaluation of the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cfm?Lab=OPP&dirEntryId=337935
- FactCheck.org, Does Glyphosate Cause Cancer? https://www.factcheck.org/2017/08/glyphosate-cause-cancer/
- EcoWatch, Health Problems Linked to Monsanto’s Roundup https://www.ecowatch.com/15-health-problems-linked-to-monsantos-roundup-1882002128.html